Media cartridge having a small-sized storage medium attachment unit

ABSTRACT

A disk drive system having a disk-shaped disk storage medium and a disk drive for accessing the disk storage medium including a media cartridge of the same shape as that of the disk storage medium to which not less than one small-sized storage medium is attachable, and an access unit provided in the disk drive for accessing the small-sized storage medium attached to the media cartridge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/736,368, filedDec. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,142, and based on Japanese PatentApplication No. 11-358853, filed Dec. 17, 1999, by Yoichi Ishida,Shunsuke Tsubota and Makoto Nemoto. This application claims only subjectmatter disclosed in the parent application and therefore presents no newmatter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a disk drive system for accessing adisc-shaped storage medium such as an optical disk and, moreparticularly, to a disk drive system enabling access not only to adisk-shaped storage medium but also to a small-sized storage medium suchas smart media.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a wide variety of devices have been presented usingso-called smart media (SSFDC: solid state floppy disk card) as recordingmedia.

The smart media are light-weight (2 g) and thin small-sized (length: 45mm, width: 37 mm, height: 0.76 mm) flash memory cards which have asimple structure and are easy to carry to allow the use as a removablestorage medium for a portable information terminal such as a digitalcamera.

In addition, the smart media are suitable for helping making theseapplied products smaller and have excellent portability allowingthemselves put between leaves of a pocket notebook or a pass-case tocarry.

Data writing and reading of smart media is conducted by connecting anaccess device for smart media not only to a digital electronic stillcamera and a portable information terminal but also to a personalcomputer etc. or by means of an adapter through a slot of a PC card.

Connecting an access device for external attachment to a personalcomputer, however, needs a space for the device and a connection code,as well as costing labor for the connection. In addition, it has such ashortcoming as larger electric power consumption than that consumed foran internally provided device.

Moreover, internally providing an access device for smart media has sucha drawback as that the size and cost of a main body of a personalcomputer are increased because an information apparatus such as apersonal computer has a limited installation space for internallymounting a device. Also as to a slot for a PC card, since it is scarcelymounted on standard desk-top personal computers for the same reason, useof a PC card requires an access device for the PC card to be added.

Technique directed to solving these conventional problems is disclosed,for example, in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 160055. Makinguse of the fact that in many desk-top personal computers, an FDD driveis installed using an installation space (bay) for a peripheralequipment provided at the front of the main body, the art recited inJapanese Utility Model Registration No. 160055 proposes a composite FDDdevice in which a drive for smart media is internally provided in an FDDdrive and an insertion slot of a floppy disk and an insertion slot ofsmart media are provided together on the upper and lower sides.

As described in the foregoing, conventional techniques have thefollowing problems.

Although a dedicated device for accessing smart media is conventionallyinstalled by external attachment to a personal computer or provisionwithin the same, the installation occupies a space for putting thepersonal computer or a free space within the main body of the personalcomputer because the dedicated device should be provided together withother disk drive devices. In a case where a dedicated device foraccessing a smart media is installed later, it will be difficult toensure an installation space in an information apparatus such as apersonal computer in many cases.

On the other hand, according to the related art disclosed in theabove-described Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 160055, althougha drive for smart media is contained in an FDD drive, the FDD drive hasa dedicated specification different from that of an ordinary FDD drive.Therefore, it is impossible to replace the FDD drive with an ordinaryFDD drive and install the same with ease. Moreover, access is made byinserting smart media one by one to deteriorate efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-describedshortcomings of conventional techniques and to provide a disk drivesystem realizing reduction in a device installation space in aninformation apparatus such as a personal computer by allowing a spacefor a disk drive to make access to both optical disk media and smartmedia.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk drivesystem which realizes a smart media changer function through attachmentof a plurality of smart media, thereby efficiently accessing a pluralityof smart media.

According to one aspect of the invention, a disk drive system includinga disk-shaped disk storage medium and a disk drive for accessing thedisk storage medium, comprises

-   -   a media cartridge of the same shape as that of the disk storage        medium to which not less than one small-sized storage medium is        attachable, wherein    -   the disk drive includes    -   access means for accessing the small-sized storage medium        mounted on the media cartridge.

In the preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided, and

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium, and    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw.

In another preferred construction, the disk drive includes:

-   -   a disk rotation shaft for rotating the media cartridge and the        disk storage medium at a predetermined rotation speed,    -   a disk storage medium access unit for executing access to the        disk storage medium,    -   an access unit for executing access to the small-sized storage        medium mounted on the media cartridge, and    -   identification means for identifying an attached media as the        media cartridge or the disk storage medium.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium, and    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw, and    -   the disk drive includes:    -   a disk rotation shaft for rotating the media cartridge and the        disk storage medium at a predetermined rotation speed,    -   a disk storage medium access unit for executing access to the        disk storage medium,    -   an access unit for executing access to the small-sized storage        medium mounted on the media cartridge, and    -   identification means for identifying an attached media as the        media cartridge or the disk storage medium.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge includes aplurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk surfaceand on which the small-sized storage medium is to be mounted,

-   -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw, and    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge.

In another preferred construction, the disk drive includes

-   -   a disk rotation shaft for rotating the media cartridge and the        disk storage medium at a predetermined rotation speed,    -   a disk storage medium access unit for executing access to the        disk storage medium,    -   an access unit for executing access to the small-sized storage        medium mounted on the media cartridge, and    -   identification means for identifying an attached media as the        media cartridge or the disk storage medium, and    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw,    -   the disk drive includes:    -   a disk rotation shaft for rotating the media cartridge and the        disk storage medium at a predetermined rotation speed,    -   a disk storage medium access unit for executing access to the        disk storage medium,    -   an access unit for executing access to the small-sized storage        medium mounted on the media cartridge, and    -   identification means for identifying an attached media as the        media cartridge or the disk storage medium, and    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the media cartridge includes:    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   four of the attachment units,    -   each the attachment unit being located at every angle of 90        degrees relative to the center of the media cartridge.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw, and    -   the media cartridge includes:    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   four of the attachment units,    -   each the attachment unit being located at every angle of 90        degrees relative to the center of the media cartridge.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   each the attachment unit including    -   an identification unit for indicating information which uniquely        identifies each the attachment unit, and    -   the disk drive includes    -   identification means for identifying each the attachment unit by        the identification unit.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge includes

-   -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   each the attachment unit including    -   an identification unit for indicating information which uniquely        identifies each the attachment unit, and    -   the disk drive includes    -   identification means for identifying each the attachment unit by        the identification unit,    -   each the identification unit being composed of    -   a combination of a plurality of terminals, and    -   the identification means individually identifying    -   each the attachment unit based on the combination of terminals.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw,    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   each the attachment unit including    -   an identification unit for indicating information which uniquely        identifies each the attachment unit, and    -   the disk drive includes    -   identification means for identifying each the attachment unit by        the identification unit,    -   each the identification unit being composed of    -   a combination of a plurality of terminals, and    -   the identification means individually identifying    -   each the attachment unit based on the combination of terminals.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw,    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   each the attachment unit including    -   an identification unit for indicating information which uniquely        identifies each the attachment unit, and    -   the disk drive includes identification means for identifying        each the attachment unit by the identification unit,    -   each the identification unit being composed of    -   a predetermined pattern, and    -   the identification means being composed of    -   means for optically reading the pattern to individually identify        the attachment unit.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge includes

-   -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge, and    -   each the attachment unit including    -   an identification unit for indicating information which uniquely        identifies each the attachment unit, and    -   the disk drive includes    -   identification means for identifying each the attachment unit by        the identification unit,    -   the identification unit forming    -   the information which individually identifies each the        attachment unit by a physical configuration provided on a        surface or on the outer periphery of the media cartridge, and    -   the identification means individually identifying    -   each the attachment unit based on a difference in the physical        configuration.

In another preferred construction, in the media cartridge, a unit to bedetected for the position detection of the small-sized storage medium isprovided,

-   -   on the disk drive side, position detection means for detecting        the unit to be detected of the media cartridge is provided,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the media cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   the position detection means being structured by    -   a micro-switch for sensing a contact by the claw,    -   the media cartridge includes    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the media cartridge,    -   each the attachment unit including    -   an identification unit for indicating information which uniquely        identifies each the attachment unit, and    -   the disk drive includes    -   identification means for identifying each the attachment unit by        the identification unit,    -   the identification unit forming    -   the information which individually identifies each the        attachment unit by a physical configuration provided on a        surface or on the outer periphery of the media cartridge, and    -   the identification means individually identifying    -   each the attachment unit based on a difference in the physical        configuration.

In another preferred construction, the small-sized storage medium is asmart media.

In another preferred construction, the disk drive is an optical diskdrive and the disk is an optical disk.

According to another aspect of the invention, a media cartridge

-   -   formed to have the same shape as that of a disk storage medium        mounted on a disk drive for accessing the disk storage medium,        and    -   comprising not less than one attachment unit for holding the        small-sized storage medium so as to be accessible by access        means provided at the disk drive.

In the preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive,    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the cartridge.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium, and    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the cartridge.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium,    -   a plurality of attachment units which are provided within a disk        surface and on which the small-sized storage medium is to be        mounted,    -   each the attachment unit being located at an equal position from        the center of the cartridge, and    -   four of the attachment units,    -   each the attachment unit being located at every angle of 90        degrees relative to the center of the cartridge.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive, wherein    -   each the attachment unit includes an identification unit for        indicating information which uniquely identifies each the        attachment unit by identification means of the disk drive.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium, wherein    -   each the attachment unit includes an identification unit for        indicating information which uniquely identifies each the        attachment unit by identification means of the disk drive.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive,    -   the unit to be detected being composed of    -   claws provided on a disk surface of the cartridge so as to        correspond to an attachment position of the small-sized storage        medium, wherein    -   each the attachment unit includes an identification unit for        indicating information which uniquely identifies each the        attachment unit by identification means of the disk drive,    -   each the identification unit being composed of a combination of        a plurality of terminals.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive, wherein    -   each the attachment unit includes an identification unit for        indicating information which uniquely identifies each the        attachment unit by identification means of the disk drive,    -   each the identification unit being composed of a predetermined        pattern optically read by the identification means of the disk        drive to identify the attachment unit.

In another preferred construction, the media cartridge further comprises

-   -   a unit to be detected for the position detection for detecting a        position of the small-sized storage medium by position detection        means provided on the side of the disk drive, wherein    -   each the attachment unit includes an identification unit for        indicating information which uniquely identifies each the        attachment unit by identification means of the disk drive,    -   the identification unit forming    -   the information individually identifying each the attachment        unit by a physical configuration provided on a surface or on the        outer periphery of the cartridge.

In another preferred construction, the small-sized storage medium is asmart media.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome clear from the detailed description given herebelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of thepreferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not betaken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation andunderstanding only.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disk drive system according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front surface of a media cartridgeaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a back surface of the media cartridgeaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an appearance of a smart media;

FIG. 5 is sectional view showing a state where a smart media is attachedto the media cartridge according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a view for use in explaining media cartridge positioningoperation according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a view for use in explaining media cartridge positioningoperation according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state where the smart media is positioned ata smart media access unit according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state where the smart media is sandwichedtogether with the cartridge according to the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the smart media access unit according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a configuration of a terminal for driverecognition in the media cartridge according to the preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view showing another structure for mechanically recognizingthe smart media attached to the media cartridge;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a further structure for optically recognizingthe smart media attached to the media cartridge;

FIG. 14 is a view showing another example of a structure of a smartmedia.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be discussedhereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstance, well-known structures are not shown in detail in order tounnecessary obscure the present invention.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the present invention willbe described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a structure of a disk drive system according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The disk drive system according tothe present embodiment is composed of a disk drive 10 capable ofconducting reading and writing of both an optical disk such as a CD-ROMand smart media and a media cartridge 20 of the same size as that of anoptical disk on which a plurality of smart media can be mounted.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the disk drive 10 includes, at a tray unit 11which can be put into and extracted from a main body of a drive 12, adisk rotation shaft 13 of an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, an opticaldisk access unit 14 for conducting access (write or read) to the opticaldisk, a smart media access unit 15 for conducting access (write or read)to a smart media 1 mounted on the media cartridge 20, a mediarecognition sensor 16 for recognizing the smart media 1 mounted on themedia cartridge 20 and a media positioning unit 17 for positioning thesmart media 20, and a disk keep unit 18.

The media cartridge 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is structuredwith a cartridge main body 21 of the same size as that of the opticaldisk which has a shaft hole 21 a fit in the disk rotation shaft 13provided at the center, on which smart media attachment units 22 a to 22d, media positioning claws 23 a to 23 d and media recognition terminals24 a to 24 d are provided.

The smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d are formed of concavitieson the surface of the media cartridge 20 in which the smart media 1shown in FIG. 4 is fit in and mounted and whose configuration is adaptedto an outer configuration of the smart media 1.

The smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d are formed at fourpositions on the media cartridge 20.

Here, the smart media 1 to be attached is formed to have anapproximately square outline and provided with a cutout 32 at a part, onthe surface of which a contact area 31 is arranged for conducting dataaccess as illustrated in FIG. 4. Structure of this smart media 1 is thatcommonly used.

Provided at a plurality of the parts of the upper edges of the smartmedia attachment units 22 a to 22 d are projections 26 for fixing theattached smart media 1 not to be detached. At the time of mounting thesmart media 1 on the smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d, thesmart media 1 is pressed so as to climb over the projections 26.

Formed at each of the smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d is anopening 25 for making the contact area 31 of the attached smart media 1be exposed to the back side.

Data read and write of the smart media 1 attached to the smart mediaattachment units 22 a to 22 d is executed as a result of contact of thesmart media access unit 15 to the contact area 31 through the opening25.

Provided on the back side of the media cartridge 20 are the mediapositioning claws 23 a to 23 d in the proximity and corresponding to thesmart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d as shown in FIG. 3. Providedon the back side of the smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d arethe drive recognition terminals 24 a to 24 d, respectively.

Detection of any of the media positioning claws 23 a to 23 d by themedia positioning unit 17 provided on the tray unit 11 of the disk drive10 results in positioning the mounted smart media 1 relative to thesmart media access unit 15.

The media positioning claw 23 a to 23 d, as illustrated in FIG. 6, arefixed projecting from the back side of the media cartridge 20. The mediapositioning unit 17 of the tray unit 11 is structured to have amicro-switch 17 a for sensing a contact by the media positioning claws23 a to 23 d arranged in a concavity 17 b in which the media positioningclaws 23 a to 23 d are fit in.

Sensing of any of the drive recognition terminals 24 a to 24 d by themedia recognition sensor 16 of the tray unit 11 leads to recognition ofthe positioned smart media 1.

The drive recognition terminals 24 a to 24 d are each formed of acombination of terminals, one minus terminal and two plus terminals asillustrated in FIG. 11 and based on a combination of current flows atthe time of electrical contact of the drive recognition sensor 16,determination is made which of the smart media 1 of the smart mediaattachment units 22 a to 22 d is positioned at the smart media accessunit 15 and selected.

The smart media access unit 15 is provided to be up and down movable onthe tray unit 11. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, arranged on theupper surface of the access unit 15 is a smart media access terminal 15a for conducting data writing and reading in contact with the contactarea 31 of the smart media 1 and arranged in the vicinity of the same isthe media recognition sensor 16.

The disk keep unit 18 of the disk drive 10 is provided in the drive mainbody 12 so as to be up and down movable and to press the positionedsmart media 1 toward the smart media access unit 15 by a predeterminedforce.

Next, description will be made of operation of thus structured diskdrive system according to the present embodiment.

When an optical disk or the media cartridge 20 is set to the tray unit11 to close the tray unit 11, the optical disk access unit 14 confirmswhether the optical disk is inserted or not.

Then, an optical disk mode is set when the optical disk is sensed and asmart media mode is set when the same is not sensed.

In the optical disk mode, data write and read to and from the insertedordinary optical disk is conducted by the optical disk access unit 14.

In the smart media mode, that is, when the media cartridge 20 isinserted, the system operates in the following manner.

First, a rotation speed is set to be a rotation speed for the smartmedia cartridge 20 (lower than a speed for an optical disk).

At this time, while the micro-switch 17 a in the media positioning unit17 is at the off state as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the mediacartridge 20 rotates to make the media positioning claws 23 a to 23 dfit in the media positioning unit 17 and come into contact with themicro-switch 17 a, the micro-switch 17 a is turned on as illustrated inFIG. 7.

Turn-on of the micro-switch 17 a stops the rotation of the mediacartridge 20. The foregoing operation enables the smart media 1 mountedon the media cartridge 20 to be positioned at the smart media accessunit 15 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

After the positioning, the smart media access unit 15 and the disk keepunit 18 move from the opposite sides to fix the smart media 1 beingsandwiched together with the media cartridge 20 as illustrated in FIG.9.

At this time, the smart media access terminal 15 a and the driverecognition sensor 16 shown in FIG. 10 come into electrical contact withthe contact area 31 of the smart media 1 and the drive recognitionterminals 24 a to 24 d of the media cartridge 20.

Coming into contact of the drive recognition sensor 16 with the driverecognition terminals 24 a to 24 d leads to determination which of thesmart media 1 of the smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d ispositioned and selected according to a combination of electric currentsat the time of contact.

Then, data write and read to and from the smart media 1 is conducted bythe smart media access terminal 15 a of the smart media access unit 15.

In addition, in a case of accessing other smart media 1, rotate themedia cartridge 20 to position other smart media 1 mounted on othersmart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d and to make access in the samemanner.

The foregoing mechanism realizes a smart media changer capable ofsimultaneously accessing four smart media 1.

Although in the above-described embodiment, determination which of thesmart media 1 of the smart media attachment units 22 a to 22 d ispositioned is made by electrical contact of the drive recognition sensor16 with the drive recognition terminals 24 a to 24 d, other arrangementis possible as shown in FIG. 12 in which a drive recognition projectionunit 27 made up of a plurality of projections is provided on the side ofthe media cartridge 20 in place of the drive recognition terminals and acontact sensor 16 a for identifying a combination of the driverecognition projection unit 27 by mechanical contact is provided on theside of the disk drive 10.

Further possible is an arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 13 in which adrive recognition pattern 28 such as a bar code is provided on the sideof the media cartridge 20 in place of the drive recognition terminal andan optical sensor 16 b for optically reading and identifying the driverecognition pattern 28 is provided on the side of the disk drive 10.Other than a pattern such as a bar code, characters and the like can beoptically read and recognized.

Moreover, replacing the openings of the smart media attachment units 22a to 22 d of the media cartridge 20 by openings 25 a through which notthe part of the contact area 31 but the whole of the smart media 1 isexposed enables detachment of the smart media 1 from the smart mediaattachment units 22 a to 22 d without direct contact of a finger withthe contact area 31.

In addition, although in the above-described embodiment, the smart mediaaccess unit 15 is provided on the tray unit 11 of the disk drive 10, itcan be provided not on the tray unit 11 but on the side of the drivemain body 12.

The system is applicable not only to a disk drive of a tray type butalso to that of a clamshell type.

Applicable as the disk drive 10 are such drives as a CD-ROM drive, aCD-R drive, a CD-R/RW drive, a DVD-ROM drive, a DVD-RAM drive, and a PDdrive.

Furthermore, although in the above-described embodiment, the number ofsmart media which can be set in the media cartridge 20 is four, it canbe not more than four or not less than four if physically allowed.

As described in the foregoing, according to the disk drive system of thepresent invention, incorporation of a smart media reading and writingfunction into a disk drive allows a space for the disk drive to makeaccess to both an optical disk media and the smart media, therebyenabling reduction of a device installation space in an informationapparatus such as a personal computer.

In addition, since the function of the smart media changer is realizedby the arrangement in which a plurality of smart media are mounted on asmart media cartridge, the plurality of smart media can be handledsimultaneously to enable efficient use.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respectto exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention should not be understood as limited to thespecific embodiment set out above but to include all possibleembodiments which can be embodies within a scope encompassed andequivalents thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appendedclaims.

1. A media cartridge formed to have the same shape as that of a diskstorage medium mounted on a disk drive for accessing said disk storagemedium, and comprising not less than one attachment unit for holding asmall-sized storage medium so as to be accessible by access meansprovided at said disk drive, and further comprising a unit to bedetected for the position detection for detecting a position of saidsmall-sized storage medium by position detection means provided on theside of said disk drive.
 2. The media cartridge as set forth in claim 1,said unit to be detected being composed of claws provided on a disksurface of said cartridge so as to correspond to an attachment positionof said small-sized storage medium.
 3. The media cartridge as set forthin claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of attachment units whichare provided within a disk surface and on which said small-sized storagemedium is to be mounted, each said attachment unit being located at anequal position from the center of said cartridge.
 4. The media cartridgeas set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of attachmentunits which are provided within a disk surface and on which saidsmall-sized storage medium is to be mounted, each said attachment unitbeing located at an equal position from the center of said cartridge. 5.A media cartridge formed to have the same shape as that of a diskstorage medium mounted on a disk drive for accessing said disk storagemedium, and comprising not less than one attachment unit for holding asmall-sized storage medium so as to be accessible by access meansprovided at said disk drive, and further comprising: a plurality ofattachment units which are provided within a disk surface and on whichsaid small-sized storage medium is to be mounted, each said attachmentunit being located at an equal position from the center of saidcartridge, and said plurality of attachment units being four in number,each said attachment unit being located at every angle of 90 degreesrelative to the center of said cartridge.
 6. The media cartridge as setforth in claim 5, further comprising: a unit to be detected for theposition detection for detecting a position of said small-sized storagemedium by position detection means provided on the side of said diskdrive.
 7. The media cartridge as set forth in claim 4, said plurality ofattachment units being four in number, each said attachment unit beinglocated at every angle of 90 degrees relative to the center of saidcartridge.
 8. A media cartridge formed to have the same shape as that ofa disk storage medium mounted on a disk drive for accessing said diskstorage medium, and comprising not less than one attachment unit forholding a small-sized storage medium so as to be accessible by accessmeans provided at said disk drive, wherein each said attachment unitincludes an identification unit for indicating information whichuniquely identifies each said attachment unit by identification means ofsaid disk drive.
 9. The media cartridge as set forth in claim 8, furthercomprising: a unit to be detected for the position detection fordetecting a position of said small-sized storage medium by positiondetection means provided on the side of said disk drive.
 10. The mediacartridge as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a unit to bedetected for the position detection for detecting a position of saidsmall-sized storage medium by position detection means provided on theside of said disk drive, said unit to be detected being composed ofclaws provided on a disk surface of said cartridge so as to correspondto an attachment position of said small-sized storage medium.
 11. Themedia cartridge as set forth in claim 8, wherein each saididentification unit being composed of a combination of a plurality ofterminals.
 12. The media cartridge as set forth in claim 8, furthercomprising: a unit to be detected for the position detection fordetecting a position of said small-sized storage medium by positiondetection means provided on the side of said disk drive, wherein eachsaid identification unit being composed of a combination of a pluralityof terminals.
 13. The media cartridge as set forth in claim 8, said unitto be detected being composed of claws provided on a disk surface ofsaid cartridge so as to correspond to an attachment position of saidsmall-sized storage medium, wherein each said attachment unit includesan identification unit for indicating information which uniquelyidentifies each said attachment unit by identification means of saiddisk drive, each said identification unit being composed of acombination of a plurality of terminals.
 14. The media cartridge as setforth in claim 8, wherein each said identification unit being composedof a predetermined pattern optically read by the identification means ofsaid disk drive to identify said attachment unit.
 15. The mediacartridge as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a unit to bedetected for the position detection for detecting a position of saidsmall-sized storage medium by position detection means provided on theside of said disk drive, wherein each said identification unit beingcomposed of a predetermined pattern optically read by the identificationmeans of said disk drive to identify said attachment unit.
 16. The mediacartridge as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a unit to bedetected for the position detection for detecting a position of saidsmall-sized storage medium by position detection means provided on theside of said disk drive, said unit to be detected being composed ofclaws provided on a disk surface of said cartridge so as to correspondto an attachment position of said small-sized storage medium, whereineach said identification unit being composed of a predetermined patternoptically read by the identification means of said disk drive toidentify said attachment unit.
 17. The media cartridge as set forth inclaim 8, wherein said identification unit forming the informationindividually identifying each said attachment unit by a physicalconfiguration provided on a surface or on the outer periphery of saidcartridge.
 18. The media cartridge as set forth in claim 8, furthercomprising: a unit to be detected for the position detection fordetecting a position of said small-sized storage medium by positiondetection means provided on the side of said disk drive, wherein saididentification unit forming the information individually identifyingeach said attachment unit by a physical configuration provided on asurface or on the outer periphery of said cartridge.
 19. The mediacartridge as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a unit to bedetected for the position detection for detecting a position of saidsmall-sized storage medium by position detection means provided on theside of said disk drive, said unit to be detected being composed ofclaws provided on a disk surface of said cartridge so as to correspondto an attachment position of said small-sized storage medium, whereineach said identification unit forming the information individuallyidentifying each said attachment unit by a physical configurationprovided on a surface or on the outer periphery of said cartridge.
 20. Amedia cartridge formed to have the same shape as that of a disk storagemedium mounted on a disk drive for accessing said disk storage medium,and comprising not less than one attachment unit for holding asmall-sized storage medium so as to be accessible by access meansprovided at said disk drive, wherein said small-sized storage medium isa smart media.